Letter: Smaller government, lower taxes, better Illinois

Comment

The State Journal-Register

Writer

Posted Apr. 16, 2014 at 1:04 AM

Posted Apr. 16, 2014 at 1:04 AM

I believe the state estimated it would collect around $28 billion from the four-year “temporary” tax increase, and according to your editorial the past due bills are still $6.7 billion. Therefore they spent over $20 billion on other stuff.

We are told that it is gutsy to propose extending something they promised would be temporary. It is not gutsy to promise stuff and pander by going after the “rich” because most of us are not nor will ever be rich. What is gutsy is for politicians to propose living within their means, which is what they are supposed to do.

Illinois has medium to high income taxes, the second highest property taxes, the fifth highest taxes on gasoline, and high sales tax and workers compensation costs. If a business looked to expand from another state or another country, would it likely to pick Illinois or another state with lower costs?

The greed of government and politicians is never ending. There is never enough. It is an easy concept that if people and businesses are allowed to keep more of their money they will spend it throughout the economy. Too bad politicians don’t understand that.

Politicians and people who believe in smaller government, less regulations and lower taxes (which are popular positions with the public) are continually called right wing extremists while big government advocates are never called left wing extremists.

I continue to dream that the media will report objectively instead of based on an agenda. My dreams will obviously have to wait.